countryside
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The Most Popular Children’s Toy in 1899 Collection #2
Today we archive more ‘knights on hogback’. We discussed in the last post how this phenomenon became the hobby of the parents. If you were to visit rural communities in the north on any given Sunday, you would find children bashing each other and adults doing the same but much more vehemently. Before long the…
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The Most Popular Children’s Toy in 1899 Collection #1
We should clarify right away that the title of this collection is a little bit misleading. The toys were actually the most popular for parents who would goad their children into playing with them. Regular visitors to our blog may recall previous collections where parents use their children for their own amusement. So what on…
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A Murder of Scarecrows Collection #3
As autumn grips us, winter is getting ready to pounce. Today we return to this frosty collection purely because every time we look at those bleak English landscapes, we’re grateful to have somewhere warm to stay. The background story can be found in earlier collections should you wish to read them. Many thanks, TVUP
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A Day Out at Monkey Manor Collection #2
The above images depict some of the artwork, statues and ornaments which can be found in Monkey Manor. We have no idea how Ms Telford obtained these. It’s entirely possible that they are her creations. Photograph #1 might look cute, but it isn’t depicting a special bond between primate and human; rather it’s depicting a…
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A Day Out at Monkey Manor Collection #1
We deliberated for quite some time over whether this belongs in the taxidermy collection or warrants a chapter of its own. We decided on the latter as Monkey Manor was more of an attraction than an object. Tucked away in the beautiful Cotswolds you will find a country manor which has been home to several…
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The Gothic Artwork of Vincent Pugh Collection #1
Today we introduce you to the photographer and artist Vincent Pugh who lived in Berkshire. Vincent was something of a recluse, rarely appearing in public other than to sell his art. The rest of the time he lived in a huge mansion with a breathtaking amount of land. He was also a hopeless romantic who…
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The Druids’ Search for Light Collection #2
Today we return to Cumbria where the Druids have always had a large presence albeit virtually unknown until now. Once upon a time there were many monuments dotted around the Lake District as well as across the north western coastlines. We have been told that today some are well hidden and some have disappeared entirely.…
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Tractor Wars Collection #1
In rural areas in Victorian England, the main reason for disputes was land boundaries. As most people couldn’t afford legal representation, people came up with their own solution. In order to resolve the matter between themselves, they decided that they would emulate the jolly old medieval resolution system of jousting. However, instead of shining armour…
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A Murder of Scarecrows Collection #2
This is the second and final scarecrow collection for a while. Photograph #9 depicts one of the biggest working farms of the Victorian era. At the very peak of the bird epidemic, Melrose Farms employed forty people to trudge through wintery fields while dressed as scarecrows. On average, working in the scarecrow trade for Melrose…
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